These Modern Indian Changemakers Are Our Role Models
We’re surrounded by women who are fighting against unimaginable odds every single day to continue making the world a better place. These women make it easier to wake up every day and get motivated to contribute in our own way to society.
Over the years, the barricades that thwarted women from permeating into previously male-dominated spaces have started getting eroded, paving the way for more women to create revolutionary changes in the world around us.
For this International Women’s Day, we decided to look at some of the changemakers that have inspired us from different fields like fashion, design, science, law, and business. While no single list can encapsulate the sheer number of Indian women who have made us proud and motivated us to be better people, here are the Indian women we look up to…
Anita Dongre profile photograph
Anita Dongre
Changemaking Factor: Putting India on the global map for sustainable fashion practices.
Sustainability has been one of the core values of the designer ever since she established her eponymous label in 1995. She is one of the few well-known designers around the world who became early adopters of vegan alternatives in raw materials for their products. Recently, the designer launched a line of vegan luxury handbags using a plant-based leather alternative in a bid to prove that sustainability can be luxurious.
Global Handwashing Day - Mumbai
Leena Nair
Changemaking Factor: Becoming the first female CEO of Chanel.
The British-Indian businesswoman made headlines when it was announced that she was taking over as the CEO of one of the most iconic luxury brands in the world, Chanel. Nair became the first female CEO of the French luxury fashion house. Before this, she was the first female (and youngest-ever) Chief Human Resource Officer at Unilever. At the time of her joining the organisation, the female representation in the company was a measly 2%. Under her leadership, the company became gender balanced across its management globally.
Aerospace scientist Tessy Thomas
Tessy Thomas
Changemaking Factor: Instrumental in making India self-reliant in the field of missile technology.
India’s very own ‘Missile Woman’ is an inspiration to any person who wants to enter a STEM field. At the time of her joining the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), there were only five women working there. Over the next few years, she worked hard to rise up the ranks and soon became the Project Director for missions like Agni IV and V.
Grace Banu
Grace Banu
Changemaking Factor: Continues to fight for transgender civil rights and raise awareness for the issues plaguing the community.
Dalit and transgender rights activist Grace Banu overcame insurmountable odds and became the first transgender person to be admitted to an engineering college in Tamil Nadu. She graduated and became a software engineer. She also adopted Tharika Banu as her daughter, after she was thrown out of her house for being transgender. Her adopted daughter became the first registered transgender person to complete her secondary education in the state.
Karishma Kewalramani
Karishma Kewalramani
Changemaking Factor: Making beauty inclusive and accessible for all.
The co-founder of FAE Beauty, Karishma Kewalramani’s intention with her brand was to erase boundaries that make beauty inaccessible to many. According to her, the brand’s name stands for Free and Equal Beauty, a philosophy that she stands by unequivocally. The brand is known for products that have been specifically formulated for Indian skin, with its diverse range of skin tones and issues, and its unfiltered campaigns.
Vrinda Grover, Supreme Court lawyer and Human Rights Activist in New Delhi, India
Vrinda Grover
Changemaking Factor: Her work with cases of domestic violence, especially those involving sexual minorities.
Aside from being a prominent force to be reckoned with in the Indian legal scene, Vrinda Grover has been a human rights activist too. Through her work, she has also been one of the voices instrumental in shaping the women’s rights movement in the country. In 2013, she was recognised by TIME magazine as one of the 100 most powerful women in the world.
G20 - Global Solidarity Summit
Vandana Shiva
Changemaking Factor: Creating awareness for biodiversity conservation around the world.
A recipient of the Right Livelihood Award (1993), Vandana Shiva is a vocal advocate for being more mindful of where our food comes from. She is an environmental activist, food sovereignty advocate, ecofeminist, and anti-globalisation author. Shiva has been educating people on the importance of more women-focused systems in India’s agricultural scene and the need for climate security over the years.
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